As suggested by the name this cabbage-relative has two flavours for the price of one, though the garlic comes across rather more strongly to my mind. The leaves are actually tasteless until they are crushed or, if you will, ‘tasted’. The chemical reactions producing the strong flavours only take place (as a defence mechanism) once…
Author: Mark
Born Bristol, UK
Educated: Cleeve House School Bristol, Bristol Grammar School and Downing College Cambridge
Ph.D. University of Aberdeen, Winter activity of pipistrelle bats.
NERC post-doctoral Research Fellow, Edward Grey Institute, Oxford University
Former Conservation Director of the RSPB, 1989-2011
Paul Leyland – Barbut’s Cuckoo Bumblebee
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Paul writes: Searching for insects is a bit like birding. I have a home patch, life list, year list, etc. I even get to look for Cuckoos. So it was great when I found this bumblebee last week. A lifer on my home patch! It’s a good record as well. Barbut’s Cuckoo Bee (Bombus…
Please respond to Forest of Bowland AONB consultation
The Forest of Bowland AONB is consulting on its next 5-year plan for 2019-24. They would like your views by a week today, 25 May. It’s easy to fill in the short consultation form – takes about 5 minutes. Have a look at their last plan with its images of Hen Harriers and talk of…
BBS and birds generally
I did my two Breeding Bird Survey Square surveys a little while back. Both were carried out on gloriously sunny mornings and both were very enjoyable. There is a smug feeling of being virtuous that one gets from being up early for a purpose, and especially if that purpose is volunteering for the public good,…
Guest blog – Emperor Gove’s New Clothes by Carol Day
Carol Day has worked for environmental NGOs, including The Wildlife Trusts and WWF, for over 25 years. She now works part-time as a Consultant Solicitor for Leigh Day and as a Legal Consultant for the RSPB. Carol was part of the Leigh Day team with whom I worked on our successful legal challenge to Natural…
Please tell Labour to get a nature conservation policy
The Labour animal welfare plan is a pretty good document. It is open for consultation until the end of the month – please send in some comments – I have! I welcomed the plan – which includes some conservation measures as well as primarily welfare measures. That’s good. But Labour does need a nature conservation…
Hen Harrier Day/Weekend
The dates for Hen Harrier Day/Weekend are fixed for 11 and 12 August 2018. How Glorious! A few people have contacted me about events but I’m the wrong person to ask as it is Birders Against Wildlife Crime who have coordinated things for the last few years. Keep an eye on this website for…
Guest blog – The Walshaw Moor blogs (1-68) by Richard Wilson (Wuthering Moors 69)
Richard Wilson is an independent professional ecologist with just under 20 years experience. When in the field, he specialises in invertebrate and avian ecology, with a smattering of botanical surveying thrown in for good measure. His background as a consultant has led to a keen interest in EU and UK law in the context of nature conservation….
No Nightingales
It’s that time of year when I make the pilgrimage to Glapthorn Cow Pasture to listen to Nightingales. I write about this almost every year (2010, 2012, 2103, 2014, 2016) because that visit to a local wood has become a tradition. I’ve been there with my mum and my late father (over 20 years ago),…
Open letter to Andrew Sells
Dear Andrew I hope you are well but I fear that the organisation of which you are the Chair, is gravely sick. Natural England seems to have caught a disease whose symptoms are an inability to work for nature conservation in the uplands but instead to align itself with one small sectional interest, grouse shooting,…